Price tag collector



July 31, 1962 Filed May 25, 1960 F. W. PERRY EI'AL PRICE TAG COLLECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS FRANKLIN W. PERRY JACK H. REYNOLDS THEIR ATTORNEYS July 31, 1962 F. w. PERRY ETAL 3,047,218

PRICE TAG COLLECTOR Filed May 25, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 98 FIG.6

' slO2 l $024 SC40bI TAG COLLECTOR INVENTORS FRANKLIN W. PERRY- JACK H. REYNOLDS THEIR ATT RNEYS United States Patent 3,047,218 PRICE TAG COLLECTOR Franklin W. Perry and Jack H. Reynolds, Dayton,

Ohio, assignors to The National Cash Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Filed May 25, 1960, Ser. No. 31,590 4 Claims. (Cl. 235-11) This invention relates to a novel mechanism for collecting merchandise tags and, more particularly, relates to a system for enforcing the collecting of merchandise tags as a part of a merchandise sale.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a tagcollecting mechanism which is attached to a cash register into which data from the merchandise tags is to be entered, and controls between the collecting mechanism and the cash register operable by the insertion of a tag into the collecting mechanism for controlling the operation of the cash register.

Another object of the invention is to provide a feeding mechanism for feeding tags into a magazine or receptacle, which feeding mechanism operates controls for conditioning a cash register for operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tagcollecting mechanism having controls for controlling the operation of the cash register and means for locking the controls of the tag collector in an operating condition to allow the cash register to be operated throughout the length of the merchandise transaction.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel mechanism for filing merchandise tags which is simple in operation and low in cost, and which is provided with controls for energizing a cash register once a tag has been inserted into the tag collector mechanism, which controls are reliable and capable of functioning under all types of merchandise sale procedures.

With these and incidental objects in view, the inven tion includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, a preferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

Of said drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the collector mechanism with the cabinet removed.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the collector mechanism taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

. FIG. 3 is a top cross-sectional view of the collector mechanism taken along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a detail view of the tag magazine showing the handle and the spring.

FIG. 5 is a detail view showing the tag slide positioning means.

'FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of the cash register energizing circuit showing the switches located in the cash register and the tag collector mechanism.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION Under todays modern merchandising methods, tags are attached to the merchandise to be sold, these tags containing data pertaining to the price, the type of merchandise, and any other type of information which the pro priet-or deems important. During a sales transaction involving the use of a cash register, the tags are removed to be collected and later used as a basis for inventory control or for any other type of business. In actual practice, it has been hound that the tags are not recovered due to the careless handling of the tags on the part of the sales operator. In order to overcome this problem, the present invention contemplates providing, in conjunction with the cash register, a tag collector apparatus including means to prevent the operation of the cash register until the tag attached to the merchandise item has been properly deposited in the tag collector apparatus. The tag collector includes controls actuated when a tag is inserted into the tag-collecting mechanism for conditioning the cash register for a sales operation. Included in the control system of the tag collector is a novel arrangement for insuring that the energizing circuit to the cash register will be available throughout the length of the sales transaction, once the tag has been inserted into the collector mechanism.

The invention is disclosed herein as being connected to a machine of the type shown the co -pending United States patent application of Richard L. Ditmer et aL, Serial No. 622,591, filed November 16, 1956, now Patent No. 3,014,647 and in the United States Patent No. 2,936,113, issued May 10, 1960, to Alfred D. Clark 11 and Rudolph A. Vojsak. The machines illustrated in these references are of the type in which data from the merchandise tag is inserted into the machine, and the machines include amount banks of keys and two rows of motorized control keys for classifying the various data and for initiating an operation of the machine. It will be readily understood that these machines are used merely to illustrate the purpose of the invention and that the invention can be applied to any other statistical machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings, there is shown, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tag collector mechanism, including a base plate 1, a right side frame 2, land a left side firarne 3, each of the side frames being attached to the base plate by means of brackets 4. The mechanism is enclosed by a cabinet 5, having openings its top and rear portions. Located intermediate the ends of the side frames 2 and 3 is a back plate 6, ext-ending in a generally slantwi'se direction, as shown in FIG. 2. This back plate divides the tag collector into a forward section, containing the controls for controlling the operation of the cash register, and a rearward section, which comprises the location of the tags when they are deposited in the tag collector. The back plate has an upper extension 7, which extends in a longitudinal direction across the top of the tag collector structure. Included in this extension is a series of cut-outs 8 (FIG. 3), into which are positioned for rotation a plurality of actuating arms 9, which will be described hereinafter. The back plate is attached to the base and the side frames by brackets 10.

Positioned between the two side frames, at the top of the tag collector, is a slide block 11, the under side of which contains a plurality of slots 12, each having a groove 14, as shown in FIG. 4. The slide block 11 and the upper extension 7' form a chute through which the tag is inserted. Located adjacent each of the slots 12 are a plurality of serrations 13 (FIG. 4). Associated with the slide block is a tag slide 15, slidably supported by the extension 7 of the back plate 6. The tag slide is composed of a plurality of U-shaped brackets 16, having welded thereto a series of horizontally-extending fingers 17. As may be seen from FIG. 2, the ends of each of the fingers 17 are bent in a slightly upright direction, so as to coact with the groove 14 of the slot 12 of the guide block 1'1. Movement of the tag slide along the extension 7 into the tag chute is accomplished by means of a thumb bracket 18, welded to the tag slide. In a tag-feeding operation, the tag is placed on the fingers 17 of the tag slide, and then the slide is moved to the right, as viewed in FIG. 2, to position the tag above a tag receptacle located in the rear portion of the tag collector. During this movement,-the brackets 16 coact with the slots 12 of the slide block 11, thereby allowing the tag slide to complete its tag-feeding movement. Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a left side view of the top portion of the tag collector mechanism. Located in the left side frame 3 is a slot 19, extending approximately the width of the side frame. A stud 20, mounted on the tag slide 15, is positioned within the slot. Located on the stud is a ratchet pawl 21, which coacts with a rack 22, mounted on the side frame 3. Movement of the tag slide during a tag-feeding operation moves the ratchet pawl into engagement with the rack. This prevents any reverse movement of the tag slide once the pawl has engaged the rack until the tag slide has completed its full movement to the left, as viewed in FIG. 5. A spring 23, attached to the ratchet pawl and a stud 24, located on the side frame 3, urges the pawl 21 into engagement with the rack 22.

The actuating and control section of the tag mechanism is disclosed in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. As shown, there is rotata-bly supported between the two side frames a switch arm line comprising an operating shaft 25 (FIG. 1) having a plurality of switch arms 9 pinned thereto. The shaft 25 is positioned immediately below the horizontal extension 7 of the back plate 6. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper portion of each switch arm 9 extends through the cut-outs 8, located within the extension 7, and is positioned within a serration 13 of the guide block 11.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the switch arm on the left end of the switch arm line has a lower extension 26. Rotatably attached to this extension is a latch arm 27 (FIG. 2) having a slot 28 positioned intermediate its ends. A guide bracket 29, secured to the left side frame, has a slot (FIG. 1) through which the latch arm 27 extends. The other end of the latch arm is positioned adjacent a stud 30, located on a release arm 31. The latch arm is slidably supported by the tip of a switch arm 41, located adjacent the slot 28. This arrangement allows the latch arm to slide in a fore-and-aft direction. The release arm 31 is rotatably attached to the side frame 3 by means of a stud 32. Upon rotation of the release arm in a clockwise direction, the latch arm 27 will be engaged by the stud '30 of the release arm and rotated about the lower extension 26 of the switch arm 9. As will be explained later in the consideration of the electrical operating circuits, during the movement of the tag slide along the extension 7, a tag located thereon will engage the switch arms 9, rotating them clockwise, as viewed from FIG. 2. This rotation will condition the latch arm to close a switch in the motor energizing circuit on a subsequent movement of the latch arm, thereby conditioning the cash register for an operation. At the conclusion of this operation, the release arm 31 is actuated to control the latch arm for releasing the switch in a resettingoperation. --Associated with the release arm 31 is a trip slide 33, slidably supported on studs 34, located in the side frame, as shown in FIG. 2. A stud 35, located on the trip slide, normally engages the release arm 31. A spring 36, connected to the stud 35 and the stud 34, normally urges the stud 35 into engagement with the trip slide. This allows the release arm 31 to be controlled by the movement of the trip slide 33. Another spring, 37, connected between the stud 34 and one end of the latch arm 27, normally urges the latch arm into engagement with the end of the switch arm 41. As will be disclosed hereinafter, movement of the trip slide to the left, as viewed in FIG. 2, will rotate the release arm, thereby rocking the latch arm 27 in a resetting operation.

A solenoid L24, located on the side frame 3, contains a plunger 39, bolted to one end of the trip slide 33, as shown in FIG. 2. A switch S024 is also attached to the side frame 3, with its switch arm 41 extending in a vertical direction to a point adjacent the slot 28 of the latch arm 27. As previously explained, the switch arm 41 slidably supports the latch arm 27. The operation of the solenoid and the switch will be explained in the consideration of the electrical circuits.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, there is shown located in the rear section of the tag collector a magazine 42 for collecting the tags that are inserted into the tag mechanism. The magazine is of rectangular shape and has located therein a spring 43, supporting a platform 44, upon which the tags are positioned. Located in the back side of the magazine 42 are two studs 45. A magazine handle 46, facilitating the insertion and removal of the magazine into and from the tag collector mechanism, is attached to the magazine by means of the studs 45, as shown in FIG. 4. Two fingers 47, extending from the handle over the mouth of the magazine, prevent the tags from being dislodged from the magazine during the removal of the magazine from the collector.

Located on the front of the tag magazine are two more studs, 48 (FIG. 2), which, when the tag magazine is positioned into the rear portion of the tag collector, are inserted into two holes located in the back plate 6. A look lever 49 (FIG. 1), pivotally supported on the back plate 6 by means of a stud 50 (FIG. 1), is then rotated to engage the two studs 48, thereby locking the tag magazine into a tag-receiving position within the tag collector. Associated with the lock arm is a key lock 51 (FIGS. 1 and 3), having a plunger 52 (FIG. 3), which is positioned beneath the lock lever 49 by means of a key, thereby locking in the tag magazine. While the magazine shown is used for the specific purpose of having the tags stacked in a pre-arranged position to facilitate their insertion into a data-processing machine, a magazine having a box-like structure conforming to the general interior dimensions of the rear portion of the tag collector may be inserted into the tag collector when the tags to be collected are not of uniform size. It should be noted that, with the use of this latter type of magazine, the tags will not be stacked in line but will be in a generally loose condition.

In the operation of the tag mechanism, a tag is placed on the fingers 17 of the tag slide 15. The slide is then moved to the right, as viewed in FIG. 2, to a position where the tag is located above the tag magazine 42. During this movement of the tag slide, the upturned ends of the fingers 17 of the tag slide engage the stacked tags already positioned in the magazine, thereby pressing the stacked tags downward to guide the new tag into position. During this tag-inserting movement of the tag and the tag slide, the tag engages the switch arms 9, rotating them clockwise, as previously disclosed. As the tag passes over the switch arms, a spring 53, attached to the switch arm extension 26 (FIG. 2), urges the switch arms 9 toward their original position. Upon the return move-.

ment of the tag slide, the tag located on the tag slide is blocked by the rear perpendicular edge of the switch arms and is deposited in the tag magazine as the fingers 17 of the tag slide are withdrawn from beneath the guide block 11. Thus, it will be seen that, in one operation, the tag is deposited and stacked in position to be used in a further data-processing operation.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit for controlling the operation of the cash register by the tag collector mechanism. The circuit diagram has one section enclosed by a dotted line 100. This is a diagrammatic illustration indicating which of the control switches are in the cash register and which are in the tag collector mechanism. Those switches and controls to the left of the line are in the cash register, while those enclosed within the dotted line are in the tag-collecting mechanism. The cash register circuit comprises essentially an energizing circuit for a typical cash register. Reference should be made to the previously mentioned co-pending United States patent application of Richard L. Ditmer et al., Serial No. 622,591, filed November 16, 1956, and United States Patent No. 2,936,113, issued May 10, 1960, to Alfred D. Clark II and Rudolph A. Vojsak, for a more detailed explanation of the operation of the cash register.

As previously disclosed, insertion of the tag into the tag slide and the subsequent movement of the tag slide rotate the switch arms 9 clockwise. This movement is transmitted by the extension 26 of the previously described switch arm to the latch arm 27 (FIG. 2), resulting in the latching of the switch arm 41 of switch SC24 by the slot 28 of the latch arm. Upon the counterclockwise movement of the extension 26, due to the urging of the spring 53, the latch arm 27 will move to the right, resulting in the closing of the switch SC24. As may be seen from FIG. 6, the closing of the switch SC24 conditions a circuit for energizing the motor armature 54. Upon the depression of any designated motorized key on the keyboard of the cash register, the switch SC41a1 will close, completing an energizing circuit to the motor field coil 55 and the armature 54 from one side of the power line 98 over the conductors 101, 102, and 103, the tag switch SC24, a speed control switch SC40b1, which is normally closed, the switch SC41a1 to the other side 99 of the power line, thus causing the cash register to cycle. It is obvious that, in the case where the switch SC40b1 on the cash register is closed first, closing of the switch SC24 by the insertion of a tag into the tag collector will cycle the cash register.

Closing of the switch SC41a1 also completes an energizing circuit to the tag solenoid L24 through the switch SC24. Energization of the solenoid L24 results in the solenoid plunger 39 (FIG. 2) being moved to the right, as viewed in FIG. 2. This moves the trip slide 33 to the right, thereby positioning the stud 35 against the switch arm 41, which prevents the switch SC24 from opening while the solenoid L24 is energized. This mechanical locking of the switch SC24 in a closed position insures that an energizing circuit will be supplied to the cash register as long as the contacts SC41a1 are closed.

It will also be seen that the locking of the switch SC24 upon the energization of the solenoid L24 prevents the interruption and recycling of the cash register on the use of the same tag.

At the end of the cash register operation, the contacts SC41a1 will open, thereby de-energizing the solenoid L24. This results in the solenoid plunger 39 returning to its original position. Upon this occurrence, the slide 33 will also move to the left, as viewed in FIG. 2, which removes the stud 35 from contact with the switch arm 41. Due to the action of the spring 36, the stud 35 will overtravel and engage the release arm 31, thereby rocking the release arm clockwise. This movement results in the stud 30, on the release arm 31, engaging the lower surface of the latch arm 27, rocking the latch arm in a like direction. The clockwise movement of the latch arm disengages the switch arm 41 from the slot 28, allowing the switch SC24 to open, thus conditioning the tag collector for a further tag-receiving operation. It will thus be seen that, once the solenoid L24 is energized, the tag collector is automatically conditioned for a reset operation upon the completion of a cash register operation.

In FIG. 6 there is also disclosed a pair of contacts SC49a1 and 8066111, located in the circuit in parallel with the tag switch SC24. The contact SC49a1 is normally open and is controlled by the total lever, located on the cash register. The contact S-O66a1 is normally closed and is controlled by 'a key on the keyboard of the cash register. Whenever a tag operation is indicated, the key controlling the contact SO66a1 is depressed, thereby opening the contact SC66a1. This forces the energizing of the cash register to be completed over the tag switch SC24, which requires a tag collector operation. It should be noted that this arrangement is determined 'by the circumstances under which the cash register is used. By eliminating the closed condition of contact SC66a1, a tag operation would automatically be required to energize the cash register. In this case, closing of the contact SC66a1 would complete an energizing circuit to the cash register without the necessity of operating the tag collector. This condition will be described more clearly in the following description of the contact SC49a1.

As disclosed previously, the contact SC49a1 is controlled by the position of the total lever of the cash register. When the total lever is in the add position, the contact is opened, as shown in FIG. 6, which forces the use of the tag collector to provide an energizing circuit to the cash register. In those instances where the use of the cash register does not require a tag-collecting operation, as in total or sub-total operations, the contact SC49a1 will be closed, which completes an energizing circuit to the cash register from the power line 98 over the conductors 101, 102, the contacts SO49a1, the conductors 103, 104, to the motor armature 56 over the contacts SC40b1 and SC41a1. For a more detailed explanation of the total lever and the operation of the control keys of the cash register, reference should be made to the previously-mentioned United States Patent No. 2,936,113, which issued to Alfred D. Clark and Rudolph A. Vojsak on May 10, 1960.

There is shown in the circuit of FIG. 6 an on-off switch, ST44, located on the cash register. When the switch is closed, the tag collector is eliminated from any control of the initiating of a cash register operation. It should be pointed out that, as long as the tag collector is attached to the cash register, whenever the cash register is energized, the solenoid L24 will also be energized, resulting in the closing of the switch SC24. This provides a second energizing circuit to the cash register. Thus, when the contacts SC4-9a1, SC66b1, and ST44 are used to bypass a tag collector operation, the switch SC24 will be closed to provide an energizing circuit to the cash register in the event that these contacts are returned to their original condition before the cash register has completed its cycle of operation. I

Also included in the circuit of FIG. 6 are the contact SC'40b1, the resistor R40, and the capacitor C40. These elements operate to control the speed of the motor. In the case where the contact SO40b1 opens, thereby deenergizing the cash register motor, the solenoid L2 4 will remain energized, thus insuring the cash register of an energizing circuit when the speed of the cash register motor closes the contact SC40b1.

From the foregoing description of the operation, it will be seen that the novel tag collector provides a simple method for insuring the collection of merchandise tags as part of a sales transaction. Likewise, there is provided, as part of this tag collector operation, a system for continuously providing an energizing circuit to the cash register once the cash register has cycled, so as to complete the sales transaction.

While the form of mechanism shown and described herein is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to 'be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form or embodiment disclosed herein, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various other forms.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tag collector apparatus having controls for controlling the operation of a utilizing device, the combination including a switch operable to close a circuit for the operation of the utilizing device; a chute located in the tag collector for receiving a tag therein; a slide slidably mounted in said chute and capable of supporting a tag for insertion into the tag collector apparatus; a plurality of arms extending into said chute and actuated from a normal position by a tag supported on said slide devicefor additionally locking said switch in a closed position; and means operated by said solenoid on deenergization thereof to provide an unlatching movement for the switch closing member to release said switch.

2. In a tag collector apparatus having controls for controlling the operation of a utilizing device, the combination including switching means for completing an energizing circuit to the utilizing device; a chute in the tag collector apparatus for receiving a tag therein; a slide slidably mounted in said chute and capable of supporting a tag for insertion into the tag collector apparatus; a device extending into said chute and actuated from a normal position by a tag supported on said slide when the slide is moved within said chute in a tag-inserting operation and is returned to normal position upon completion of the insertion of the tag, said device when returned to a normal position retaining the tag from withdrawal from the collector apparatus; latching means actuated by said device for closing said switching means and retaining it in locking position; a solenoid energized in response to an operation of said utilizing device; and locking means attached to said solenoid and operated upon the energization of said solenoid to lock said switching means in a closed position during the operation of the utilizing device and to release the latching means at the conclusion of the utilizing device operation to allow the switching means to open.

3. A tag collector apparatus adopted for use with a cash register having a normally ineffective operating means, the combination including a chute in the tag collector apparatus for receiving a tag therein; a tag-feeding slide slidably supported in said chute; a plurality of arms extending into said chute and actuated by a tag supported on said slide when the slide is moved within said chute in a tag-inserting operation; switching means for rendering said operating means eifective; latching means actuated by said arms for closing said switching means, thereby rendering saidoperating means effective; actuating means energized upon operation of the cash register;

blocking means actuated for movement in one direction upon the energization of said actuating means for locking in a closed position said switching means and actuated in the reverse direction upon the deenergization of said actuating means for unlocking said switching means; and release means actuated by said blocking means upon movement of said blocking means in a reverse direction for engaging said latching means to provide an unlatching movement of said latching means, thereby releasing said switching means for a subsequent tag-feeding operation.

4. A tag collector adapted for use with a cash register having a keyboard, power means to operate the cash register, and a normally open energizing circuit for said power means, said circuit including a first normally open switch closed during each operation of the cash register and a second normally closed switch opened during a tag collecting operation, the combination including a chute for receiving a tag therein; a manually-operable tagsupporting slide capable of being moved into said chute; a plurality of arms extending into said chute, said arms being actuated by a tag supported on said slide during the movement of the slide within said chute; a normally open switch included in said energizing circuit and having a switch arm, said switch, when closed, rendering said energizing circuit operable whenever the second switch is opened; latching means actuated by said plurality of arms for latching said switch arm to a closed position whereby said energizing circuit is completed for operating the power means and a solenoid actuated upon operation of the power means for locking said switch arm in said closed position throughout the operation of the power means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,936,113 Clark May 10, 1960 

